Jeremiah 23:1-6 / Ephesians 2:13-18 / Mark 6:30-34
All of us work for a living. Whether we work in a company or work at home (or work from home) or run a business of our own, we all work for a living.
The Book of Genesis (3:19) states this: By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread.
So, the truth is that whatever work we are doing, whatever job we are holding, whatever profession we are in, we are going to sweat at it, it is not going to be easy. That is the truth.
Some professions may seem glamorous and even earn big money, and there might be times we fantasize about it.
But as in everything else, there are always two sides of the coin, and so some may get ahead, but there are also a number at the tail end.
And when we feel the job that we are in is like stuck in the rut, with no prospects, with no security and no meaning, then we will surely be looking for greener pastures.
Undoubtedly, what we desire in life is also what we desire in our job and in our work.
We desire that it will be easy, that it will be comfortable, that we will be happy, that there will be no sweat.
But the challenge in any job or in any work, is not how hard or how difficult it is or what the pay is like.
The challenge is in the people that we work with. Whether we work at home, or work in the sun, we interact with the people around us, and they can be our elders, our superiors and our colleagues.
Our relationship with them will also shape our attitudes, our sense of duty and responsibility, and also the meaning of what we are doing.
In the gospel, when the disciples came back from their mission, Jesus wanted to bring them to a lonely place and rest for a while.
Because there were so many people coming and going that the disciples had no time even to eat. They were certainly tired and hungry.
They may not be angry or resentful about that, but Jesus also knew they cannot continue like that or else they will end up burnt out.
But even as they tried to go to a lonely place to rest, the crowds guessed where they were going and followed them there.
And here, Jesus showed by example what service is all about. When He saw the large crowd, He took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and He set Himself to teach them at some length.
Jesus showed that He came to serve, and service means to cater to the needs of others, and even to their demands.
So whatever job, or work, or profession or even ministry that we are in, Jesus is teaching us that it is not so much what we do but how we are serving the people around us.
Whether they are our elders, our superiors, our colleagues or our subordinates, we serve by treating them with respect and justice, with integrity and love.
When we treat them well, then all will be well. That is what Jesus is teaching us about service.
There is an article on social media about a man who received an “adorable” letter inside his delivery parcel by someone called “Ah Sing”.
That man had ordered some items online and when his goods arrived, he received a pleasant surprise.
Inside his parcel was a “Thank you” note from the merchant, along with a personal handwritten letter by that “Ah Sing”.
Addressed to the customer, Ah Sing urged the customer to direct any feedback or complaints to his boss via a messaging app.
He assured the customer that his boss "will reply you very fast one. Unless he is driving or in a meeting."
Ah Sing also guaranteed this: "If you message him after 9pm, he will reply you next day 5am!".
Additionally, if customers are satisfied with the parcel and packaging, they can let the boss know "is Ah Sing pack one!"
Ah Sing's letter also wished the customer all the best, as well as other things besides.
Well, that “Ah Sing” surely is happy with his job, with what he is doing and his service brought a delightful smile to others.
So, in whatever we do, no matter what our job or our work is, let us do it for the glory of God and for the good of others.
May we serve as Jesus did, and may our service bring a smile to others.
